6 people gunned down in Khagrachhari

At least six men, including a leader of Pahari Chhatra Parishad, and four others critically wounded at Swanirbhar in Sadar upazila of Khagrachhari on Saturday morning.

One of the deceased was identified as Tapan Chakma, 27, district unit president of Pahari Chhatra Parishad.

Quoting local people, Sadar Police Station OC Shahadat Hossain said a gang of armed criminals suddenly started firing in the area this morning, leaving one dead on the scene and nine others injured.

Being informed, members of Fire Service and Civil Defence went to the spot and rescued the injured.

They were taken to Khagchhari Sadar Hospital where five succumbed to their injuries.

UNB adds: The OC said the gun battle between members of UPDF and its breakaway faction UPDF (Democratic) broke out over establishing control over the area around 8am. Three of the deceased were identified as Tapan Chakma, district unit president of UPDF-backed Pahari Chhatra Parishad, another leader Elton Chakma, and Ganatrantrik Jubo Forum leader Polash Chakma, also backed by the Prasit Khisha-led UPDF.

Meanwhile, additional police and army personnel were deployed in the area amid growing as tensions there, the OC added.

On May 3 last, Advocate Shaktiman Chakma, 55, chairman of Naniarchar upazila parishad and a leader of Parbatya Chattagram Jana Sanghati Samity (MN Larma faction), was shot dead by unidentified miscreants in Rangamati.

Later, five people were killed and eight others injured in a gun attack on a motorcade of the followers of slain Naniarchar upazila parishad chairman Shaktiman Chakma at Betchhari in the upazila on May 4 while they were going to attend the funeral programme of Shaktiman.